On February 17, Delta Connection Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The Bombardier CRJ900LR aircraft, en route from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, carried 80 individuals—76 passengers and four crew members. All occupants survived, though 21 sustained injuries.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s preliminary report indicates that the aircraft descended at a high rate of speed during landing. Approximately 2.6 seconds before touchdown, the enhanced ground proximity warning system issued a “sink rate” alert, signaling an excessive descent rate.
The report stated: “At touchdown, the following occurred: the side-stay that is attached to the right [main landing gear] fractured, the landing gear folded into the retracted position, the wing root fractured between the fuselage and the landing gear, and the wing detached from the fuselage, releasing a cloud of jet fuel, which caught fire.”
At touchdown, the aircraft’s airspeed was 136 knots, with a descent rate of 1,100 feet per minute—exceeding the landing gear’s design limit of 720 feet per minute.
Upon landing, a component of the right main landing gear fractured, causing the gear to collapse. This led to the right wing detaching from the fuselage, releasing approximately 6,000 pounds of jet fuel, which ignited and resulted in a fire. The aircraft ultimately overturned on the runway.
Investigators are examining factors such as the aircraft’s structural integrity, landing techniques, and pilot training. Delta Air Lines is cooperating with the investigation and has offered $30,000 to each passenger as compensation.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities analyzing the sequence of events leading to the crash to prevent future occurrences.
